Man Charged In Frederick Douglass School Shooting And 2018 Murder

BALTIMORE, MD — The man charged in a shooting at Frederick Douglass High School on Friday has been denied bail. A judge in Baltimore City District Court ruled on Monday that he would remain behind bars awaiting trial on charges that include attempted first-degree murder. Police said that the suspect has also been charged with first-degree murder related to a case in 2018, a development that came to light during recent events.

Neil Davis, 25, of the 700 block of Exeter Hall Avenue in Waverly, has been in custody since Friday, Feb. 8.

He was arrested at Frederick Douglass High School in the 2300 block of Gwynns Falls Parkway after a shooting around noon in the lobby. Police allege an argument with a school staffer led to the shooting.

RELATED: Staffer Shot, Suspect Arrested At Frederick Douglass

The victim, a 56-year-old man employed as a special education assistant by Baltimore City Public Schools, was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in critical but stable condition.

Police said that officers with the Baltimore City School Police Department detained Davis.

Suspected School Gunman Tied To Murder

Over the weekend, police reported that "as a result of recent events, additional evidence linking Davis to a 2018 murder was uncovered," and homicide detectives obtained an arrest warrant in that case.

The murder in question was that of Darelle Yancey, 25, gunned down in the 4600 block of York Road around 2:50 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2018. Police said Yancey had been taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he died soon after arriving.

Investigators had already identified Davis as a suspect in that case, according to The Baltimore Sun, which said that ballistics from the high school shooting linked him to the 2018 murder.

Police charged Davis on Feb. 8 with the following eight offenses from the Nov. 10 case, court records show:

• First-degree murder
• Second-degree murder
• First-degree assault
• Second-degree assault
• Using a firearm in a felony crime
• Handgun on person
• Discharging a firearm in city limits
• Reckless endangerment

Davis was charged with the following 14 offenses in Friday's shooting at Frederick Douglass High School:

• Attempted first-degree murder
• Attempted second-degree murder
• First-degree assault
• Second-degree assault
• Using a firearm in a felony crime
• Possessing a firearm with a felony conviction
• Illegal possession of a registered firearm
• Loaded handgun on person
• Handgun on person
• Illegal possession of ammunition
• Dangerous weapon on school property
• Disturbing school operations
• Discharging a firearm
• Illegal carrying of handguns

Davis is slated to appear for a preliminary hearing in both cases March 6 in Baltimore City District Court.

Frederick Douglass Plans To Offer Support

As a result of the shooting, Frederick Douglass High School will be closed for students on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

The closure will "allow time to plan counseling and support for students following Friday's shooting at the school," according to Baltimore City Public Schools.

Staff should report as scheduled, and counseling will be available.

Frederick Douglass was closed on Monday, Feb. 11, due to inclement weather; but Baltimore City Public Schools personnel announced on Sunday that Frederick Douglass would be closed so that staff could make plans for supporting students in the aftermath of the violence.

Booking photo courtesy of the Baltimore Police Department.